ALBUM REVIEW: Ritual Decay – lowheaven

Toronto post-hardcore band LOWHEAVEN formed just as the early days of the pandemic were taking hold of the world, but despite the chaos and negativity of that time, the band have risen above the bleakness. Although it has taken a few years for their debut album to emerge (following their debut EP Collapse), it is now here and ready for the music of LOWHEAVEN to rise above as well once again.

Ritual Decay is the album, and it is evidence that LOWHEAVEN have poured their heart and soul into this record, to the point where you can feel the passion and heartache of what the band has been through. The results speak for themselves. Mixing screamo, post-hardcore, metal and intense soundscapes in a melting pot of ideas that is in turn beautiful, cathartic and above all else; cinematic. It works very well. Beautifully heavy and heavily beautiful would be a very apt way to describe the music of LOWHEAVEN and Ritual Decay.

With the majestic vastness of album opener In Grievance setting the pace straight away, LOWHEAVEN blaze through the next nine songs with the vivacity of a band who are out to make a point with their music, and this is definitely the case here. With the songs taking in all those influences, the bands music reigns in somewhere between a serene but powerful calmness and an all out chaotic noise and the merging of these two different vibes works very well.

There are songs like Chemical Pattern,  Nothing Else Frail and the closing detonation that is Manic Grace that embrace that heavy chaos while the likes of In Grievance and Amherst embrace the calm, all the while, tracks like Fighter Grace combine both elements and ultimately, it all comes together in a seething pit of goodness.

The band have started about the physicality of the making of this record but it has to be said that whatever they went through to make this music, it is certainly worth it with the quality of the songs on offer. The sheer power definitely shines through and gives each and every one of the tracks on here a definite edge, and sounds all the better for it. LOWHEAVEN have triumphed with this debut album and on the strength of Ritual Decay, the band definitely have a bright future ahead of them, so embrace the chaos for now as who knows where the music of LOWHEAVEN will lead them next.

Rating: 7/10

Ritual Decay is out now via MNRK Heavy.

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